Keep Grand Bay-Westfield’s Name: Former Deputy Mayor

As Grand Bay-Westfield prepares for another amalgamation, a former deputy mayor says there is no need for a name change.

The town and part of the local service district (LSD) of Westfield West will join forces later this year as part of local governance reform.

As part of the process, residents will get to have a say on what the amalgamated community, currently known as Entity 51, will be called.

But Mike Likely said Grand Bay-Westfield does not require or need a name change as part of the local governance reform process.

“Hundreds of years of history are represented by Grand Bay-Westfield. The town does not need a new name,” Likely told council Monday night.

During his short presentation, Likely said Grand Bay has been known as such for more than 400 years while Westfield was given its name 236 years ago. The two communities were amalgamated as one back in 1998 to become known as Grand Bay-Westfield.

Town council, he said, does not have the mandate to rename the community, adding the process “distracts from the importance of your responsibilities.”

“You are attempting to have a vote to the magnitude of the municipal election without the participation of Elections New Brunswick,” said Likely.

“This will be controversial, expensive, divisive and time-consuming. Leave the name alone and get to work on the things you were elected to do.”

Town staff noted the entire naming process is anticipated to cost around $2,500, which has already been budgeted for.

Mayor Brittany Merrifield argued that the ongoing naming process is “consultation at its highest,” adding everyone in the two communities will have a choice in a democratic process.

“The people are going to have a voice. One person, two people, three people are not going to impose a name of the governing — and let me be clear, it’s the governing body only — on everybody else,” said Merrifield. “Each of those communities is going to retain its name and its unique characteristics.”

Likely, however, continued to push back against the need to consider a potential name change for the community.

“You’re destroying 600 years of history of an area here to bring in an amalgamated group that already has the name Westfield in it. They already live in Westfield West,” he said.

Until March 28, residents can submit potential names for the new amalgamated community, and a naming committee will choose the top names.

Community members will then vote on those top choices, which will include Grand Bay-Westfield, through a ranked ballot process.